A Tribute to a Founding Member of BAFoT

A tribute to a founding member of BAFoT.
by Jigme Raptentsetsang.

Pema Wangyal La passed away mid March 2013. He was a founding member of Bay Area Friends of Tibet (BAFoT), the first Tibet Support Group (TSG) on the West Coast. He has given much to BAFoT's efforts in spreading awareness and alleviating sufferings in Tibet. I would like to remember him by reproducing the opening paragraph that I wrote in BAFoT Newsletter 1993. On page 2, under the heading of "A Letter from BAFoT's President" - it read,

"As Bay Area Friends of Tibet marks its 10th anniversary, I want to thank each and everyone one of you for contributing your time and talents to BAFoT. Long standing members and supporters have many images from the past 10 years, including a few gems: Doc O'Connor's standing vigil in front of the Chinese Consulate in pouring rain: Pema Wangyal single-handedly cooking 1600 momos for Tibet Day; and Christine Schneider making BAFoT a visible presence by tabling at so many events. BAFoT's annual "Tibet Days" have been well attended. We have co-sponsored three important conferences over the years: The Five Point Peace Plan (1987) in Berkeley; Endangered Tibet (1990) at Fort Mason and Tibet: The Road to Independence (1991) in Berkeley. The Resettlement Project of BAFoT has very successfully brought 60 new Tibetans to the Bay Area. Our special thanks to all of the co-ordinators and their volunteers for their unrelenting hours of dedication and sacrifices."

From the days when our Tibetan community was just a handful of individuals, Pema La was not only a founding member but an active participant in many of BAFoT's activities
and helped us put up many successful Tibet Day events. He will be fondly remembered by members of BAFoT and by many among the older generation of our Tibetan community. Pema La was a private person. He did not like to stand up and speak to a large crowd but he had a good sense of humor. He always found a reason to smile and laugh. He had an inexhaustible energy and equally generous and giving heart. I have had the pleasure of knowing Pema La since we both arrived in California in 1975 and we were room mates for several years.

Prior to California, Pema la was a refugee in India like the rest of the Tibetans. He attended Tibetan refugee schools and then joined the Indo-Tibet Border (ITB) police, a special division of the Indian army. His family name is Yusum. They are from the region of Kongpo in Tibet. He is survived by his loving wife Choephey La and their daughter Tenzin Palden. He is also survived by two older daughters Chonyi and Rinchen from his previous marriage. Our hearts go out to all of them.

Bay Area Friends of Tibet and the Tibetan community have lost a pioneering member. I have lost a dear old friend but memories of Pema La spontaneously brings a smile even after he is no longer physically present, such is the nature of the man that I once knew and will always remember.

My friend, may you be reborn to a higher realm; one closer to freedom from cyclic rebirths!
And thus, humbly, do I conclude with a few verses from Kyapdro, Tibetan prayers;

kon chok sum la dak kyap chi,
dik pa tam che so sor shak,
dro way ge la je yi rang,
sang gye jang chup yi kyi zung.